THE INSIDE SCOOP >>

It is always a good idea to plan your weekend activities - map it out in your mind. If so, you can do as much as possible with the little free time we get. For example, before you get too crazy with your Friday night it in some early evening entertainment. Go to the Colored Women's Club from 6-9 p.m. for Antonio Edwards' farewell show. The spoken-word/poetry O.G. god is moving to California. Get some deep thinking in before the debauchery begins.

Then, you can quickly, but not speeding, drive-up to Seattle to catch the Zulu Jam Hip-Hop History Month Edition. The event, like all Zulu Jams, is at the historic Washington Hall. Why would I tell you to go to a Seattle show? The Weekly Volcano is a 253-area rag/site. It's because some 253-area artists are getting recognized: E-Dawg and General Wojack!

Maybe you want to keep it local and not drive. I understand that. Then go to The New Frontier Lounge and see Tacoma's own Eliot Lipp with openers Killerz with Kindness. Lipp might be the most well known electronic-musician to ever emerge from our city. It is $10 to get in, which really is not that bad to see Lipp on a Friday night.

It does not slow down Saturday. Start off by checking out an Alliance Battle League event.  This is a daytime, all-ages event at the Backstage Bar & Grill. The battles start at 1 p.m. The league is accepting nonperishable food items for the holiday season. Way to go A.B.L.!

Then that night, make a short trip to Fife where at Louie G's you can catch Mr. Von's Slice of Hip-Hop 3. These are hip-hop nights Mr. Von curates. It is only $5 to get in and there is a pizza-buffet (#winning)!  Show starts at 8 p.m. and it is all-ages.

If you are trying to stay away from the all-ages thing - fine. Go to Jazzbones and see Mickey Avalon, The Chicharones, Sky Pilot and others. Sky Pilot is having a huge freshman year. The Chicharones consist of Josh Martinez from Vancouver, B.C. and Sleep from Seattle/Portland of Oldominion fame. It is a dope group. Mickey Avalon will provide you with as much punk-rock hip-hop swagger as you could want. The show starts at 8 p.m. and it is $20 tickets.

Sunday, you might need to rest after all that. So, go to the Apex Apartments in Tacoma. That is where Fred Diezel lives. At 7 p.m. he debuts his new video "Good Time" on his personal movie theater. I do not know if it is in his personal apartment, or if his complex has a communal theater movie-screening room. Go and find out. It is a $20 event, but that $20 gets you a bottle of champagne.

LINK: Josh Rizeberg talks "digging" with Todd Sykes

LINK: More live music this weekend in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area